Turbine engine



L. F. KENNEY.

TURBINE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I6, I9I8.

1,433,950. Patented OCI. 31, 1922:.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR MEQ/@7 Patented @et El, i922.

'nonnina Application 'filed December i6, .1.918.` rSerial No, fZS.

7 10 al? w71 om 'it 77mg/ concer/t.' y

Be it linown that l, Lr inn l?. Kenner? a citizen of 'the TJnited otates,y residing' at Chicago, inthe county of @ook and State ot illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Turbine .ll-Engines7 of which the following is a full, clean concise7 and exact description7 reierence being had to the accompanying' drawingq forming a part of this. speciication.

My invention relates to improvements in turbine engines and has `:tor its object9 the production of an expansion, compound oon- (lensing` turbine engine in which a maximum ofiepiciency is obtained with a minimum oit fuel consumption.

A further object is the production of a' turbinemotor or engine in which the entire main eliiective liquid pressure of the steam or air admitted to the turbine supplemented by a vacuum created in the exhaust chamber7 'whereby both main effective pres-A sure andvacuum are utilizedt and the power generated thereby is transmitted by a serie:A of helical `gearings in compound torination.

A' further object is the production of a motorA or engine in which a vacuum chamber is includech designed to receive and filter the exhaust or condensation and return it to the boiler or generator for reheating` and 17e-usen'r y A further object the production ofl motorl lor engine which its members may be made interrhangeable and so constructed that itsmovable parts yoperate in sliding engagement with a minimum olf friction and wear.

A further object is the production of a motor or engine of simple and efficient construction and one not liable to breakage or disarrangements ot parts.

These and such other objects as may hereina'literyappear are attained by my device, an embodiment ot which is illustratedin the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l represents a sectional view of my improved turbine with portions brolaren away. y

Fig, 2 represents a sectional view on the line Q-f or .Figure l, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary sectional. view Vthrough a portion of two adjacent discs. or rotors.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawing- My device as a whole iscontained in a main shell or casing e, stepped as'indicated at 5 and 6 to accommodate the configuration of the gear wheels and havingv a shell 7, with circumferential flange 8 bolted to a flange 9, on the gear casing" by means of bolts l0. A circumferential [lange or nozzle plate il, is provided at the end to which is bolted a cover plate l2, having` a steam noz- Zle or aperture 13. rlhe nozzle plate is eut away at the end forming` a steam chamber let surrounding the main drivingshaft l5; this nlate'is also provided with a plurality of passage ways or channels, 17, placed at an angle to the line of the shaft with openings 'from the steam chamber or chest le.

he end ott-he central portiom serves as a journal bearing for the outer end ofthe shaft or drive l5 `and a steam packing 18 is provided between the shell andthe cover plate.

Positioned between the shell and casing' 7, are a plurality'o tubular sleeves 20,202*a 20", 20C, 20d, 20e, and QO, on the ends of Kvhichare apertured discs or rotors,2l 2l,

2lb, 21C, Qld, 21% and lf. rlhe tubular sleeve 20 extends to the end ot the casing and is suspended on anti-'friction ball-bearingslt will be noted that the inner periphery oi the cent-ral portion or the sleeves is cut away as indicated at 245 so as to eliminate riction between the sleeves and the shaft l5 andv to permit proper lubrication of the parts. i

lt will be nod that as the tubular sleeves l; decrease in lengt i the diameters ot the discs or rotorsql 2l, 2in, 2lb, @l 2id, 2l@ and Qlf increase, each disc or rotor beine; in sliding;

lll

are provided with `a plurality of circumferentially disposed passages, the entrances to which in each disc occupy the same vertical plane when the discs are assembled in line.

The passage through the disc however, is curved and increases in area, and the discharge end of each opening occupies a position within a larger annular ring than that of the entrance but is latterly disposed with i'esoect thereto, This feature is shown in lfigure, in which the passage 29 is shown as curved outwardly, the entrance 30, being latterly disposed with respect to the dischargei. The sides of the passage are curved, one side 32, serving as a bucket or vane against which the steam impinges when admitted into the turbine.

lt will be noted that the passages in the adjacent discs or rotors extend in opposite direction as shown in Figure 3, in which `rthe passage 33, has a curved wall 34, against which the steam impinges when entering into the passage. It will be noted by this construction, when steam is admitted under pressure striking against the wall 32, of the disc, it tends to force the disc to revolve in one direction and when the steam passes into the neXt disc, and strikes against the opposite wall 34, that dise is driven in the opposite direction to that of the first disc.

it will be noted that similar passage ways with curved walls are similarly positioned in each of the discs or rotors and the last series of channels discharge through the eX- haust ports 55 into the exhaust chamber 36,

`positioned in the upper portion of the main casing 4.

Rigidly secured to the lower ends ofthe sleeves 20, 20, 20h, 20, 20d, 20e, and 2Of are pinions 37, 37, 37b, 37C, 37d, 37e and 87f.

Positioned within the main casing and on either side of the main driving shaft are power shafts 38 and 39, one end of the shaft 38 being mounted on journal bearings 40 and 4l, and having keyed thereon, gear wheels, 42, 43, 44 .and 44 and the end main gear wheel 45. y

The power shaft 39, has keyed thereon, a plurality of gear wheels 46, 47 and 48. @n the outer end of 39, is keyed a main gear wheel 49.

The teeth of the gear wheels 42, 48, 44, 44a, 4G, 47 and 48 are adapted to engage the pinions 3.7, 37, 37b, 37C, 37d, 37e and. 37f

Yand the gear wheels 45 and 49 drive the main gear wheel 50 keyed on the end of the driving shaft i5, the gear 45 meshing withk an idler gear 5l which in turn meshes with vgear 50.

The drawing shows the main driving gear outside the housing but if desired, all of the gears can be enclosed within the housing.

Berring now to the operation of my engine or motor, steam being admitted to the steam chamber from any source (not shown) passes through'the nozzle plate and into the buckets or vanes of the first disc or rotor 2l, forcing that disc to revolve. As the disc revolves the steam is immediately `forced into the buckets or vanes of the next disc 2l, striking against the opposite curved face of the vane and causing that disc to revolve in an opposite direction. The steam passes successively through the different discs or rotors causing adjacent discs to revolve in opposite directions.

As soon as the steam is admitted and the first disc or rotor moved, as all of the discs are connected together through the pinions and g'ears,ali the discs commence to move at the same time bringing the openings in adjacent discs in proper position to receive the discharge of steam from the channel in the disc before. It will be noted by referring to the drawings that the discs revolving in one direct-ion, transmit their power to one of the side shafts, say shaft 39, and the discs moving in the opposite direction transmit their power to the other side sha-ft 38, but moving in an opposite direction. These shafts in turn through the gear wheels 4S) and 45, transmit all their power in one direction to the main driving gear 50, and consequently to the main driving shaft l5 from which it is taken off in any desired manner.

The steam after it has passed through all of the discs, enters the exhaust cham` bers 36. By means of a vacuum pump not shown, I maintain a vacuum within the exhaust chamber 36, drawing the `steam through the passages in the discs, thereby increasing greatly the efiiciency of the engine and (by means not shown) convey the waters of condensation back to the boiler and as the water is ordinarily quite hot, much economy in fuel results from this operation.

By thefuse ofthe metallic packing between the discs, I provide absolutely steam tight joints so that there is no danger of any of the steam escaping in its passage through the discs and by the use of the ball bearings, I eliminate friction to as great an extent as is possible in a machine of this character.

By the use of my device, I develop a` By this construction, l obtain an expansion, condensing compound steam engine thaty has a higher degree of elii-ciency than any engine on the market and attains Vsuch efficiency by the utilization of the mechanism andprinciples illustrated and describedV in these specilications.

It willbe noted that in my device each separate disc is a rotor and transmits power to the shaft individually, and the position of the discs are so harmonized as to obtain positive control-that is, when the parts are assembled the relative position of 'the discs with respect to the openings are so arranged as to secure positive results, 'lhe discs or rotors being rigidly secured to or integral with the sleeves at one end and the other end* of the sleeve 'being connected through a series of gearing with the supplemental power shaft, and the supplemental power shaft itself being geared to the main driving shaft in such a manner that the power transmitted in opposite direction through the revolution of the rotor is compounded on to the main drivin@ shaft.

While I have referred to steam as the means of obtaining pressure, it is of course understood that compressed air or any other liquid may be used with good results and thus do not limit myself to steam as a motive power.

By reason of the fact that the discs or rotors revolve in opposite directions, l eliminate any tendency to gyroscopic action.

l. In an engine of the class described, the combination with a casing, a main driving shaft, a plurality of channelled discs, sleeves secured to said discs forming a power' transmi'tting` means, both discs and sleeves being mounted on said driving shaft, means whereby steam entering within said casing is caused to revolve adjacent discs in opposite direction, and means for transmitting all the power deriving from such revolution to the main driving shaft.

2. ln an engine of the class described, the combination with a casing, a main driving shaft, -a plurality of curved channels extending therethrough, means whereby steam en`- tering in said casing is caused lto revolve adjacent discs in opposite direction and means for` transmitting all the power derived from such revolution to the main driving shaft and cause such driving shaft to revolve in one direction, said means including supplemental power shafts on either side of said main driving` shaft and in operative connection therewith, and gear connection between said power shafts and said sleeves,

ln an engine of the class descrihedu combination with a casing, main driving shaft, a plurality of discs mounted thereon,

j adjacent dis `by steam enterii each disc having a plurality of curved channels extending therethrough, the channels in es c nding in opposite directions, whereby steam entering inV said cas-y caused to adjacent discs in means for transf derived from such ing r'evrlve oop ,Y mitting all the por revolution to thel main driving shaft and cause such driving sl to revolve in one direction, said means including supplemental power shafts on either side of driving shaft d "ve connection therewith, am on ietveen said power shafts c d. in an engine combination with a casi a main driving shaft, a plurality of dis( mounted thereon, each disc ha ing` a plm tyV of curved channels extending therethrough the channels in adjacent discs extending in opposite directions, the walls of said channels forming in effect a plurality of buckets` or vanes, wherev g in said casing is caused 'to revolve adjacent Vdiscs in opposite direction and means for transmitting all the power derived from such revolution to the main driving shaft and cause such driving shaft to revolve in one direction, said means including supplemental power shafts' on either side of said main driving shaft and in operative connection therewith, and gear connection between said power shafts and said sleeves.

5. In an engine of the class described, the combination with a casing, a main driving shaft, a plurality of channeled discs, sleeves secured to said discs, both discs and sleeves being mounted on said driving shaft, means whereby steam entering within said casing is caused to revolve adjacent discs in opposite direction, a vacuum chamberin open communication with the discharge from the last disc, and means for transmitting 'all the power deriving from such revolution to the main driving shaft, said means including)` supplemental power shafts on either side or said main driving shaft and' in operative connection therewith, and gear connection between said power shafts and said sleeves.

G. ln an engine of the class described, the combination with a casing, a'main driving shaft, a plurality of discs or rot-ors mounted thereon, each disc or rotor having a plurality of curved channels extending therethrough, the channels in adjacent discs entending in opposite directions, the walls of said channels forming in effect a plurality of buckets or vanos, whereby steam entering in said casing is caused to revolve adjacent discs in opposite direction and means for transmitting all the power derived from such revolution to the main driving shaft of the cli' 4s d maink described, the

and cause snch driving shaft to revolve in compound the powerV on either side of said main driving shaft and in operative connection therewith,` and gear connection between said power shafts and said sleeves.

7. In an engine of the class described, thc combination with a casing, a inain driving Shaft7 a plurality of channeled discs, Sleeves secured to said discs, both discs and sleeves being mounted on Said driving shaft, means wherebj)7 Steam `entering' within said casing is caused to revolve adjacent discs in opposite direction, a vacuum chamber in open communication with the discharge from the last disc7 and nieane'ior transmitting ail the power deriving from Such revolution to the main driving shaft, said ineens including supplemental power shafts on either Side of said main driving' shaft and in operative connectionv therewith and gea-r connect-ions between said sleeves and seid supplemental power shafts, andV gear connection between said supplemental power l:shaft and said ina-in power Shaft.

8. In an engine of the class described, the combination with a casing, a lnain driving shaft, a plurality or" channeiled discs, sleeves Secured to said discs, both discs and sleeves being mounted on said driving shaft, means whereb7 steam entering within seid casing is caused to revolve adjacent discs in opposite direction, and means for transmitting all the power deriving 'ii'rorn Such revolution to the `main driving shaft, said means including supplemental power shafts on-either eide ot' said niain driving shaft and in operative connection therewith, and gear connection between said power shafts and said sleeves.

In witness whereof7 I have hereunto subscribed iny naine.

LEONARD F. KENNEY. v 

